Khaplang emerges as most important militant leader in NE

SS Khaplang has opposed the Shillong Accord signed by the then Naga National Council (NNC) with the Government of India. (Photo Courtesy: Sanjhamorcha Blog)

GUWAHATI: NSCN(K) supremo SS Khaplang has emerged as the most important insurgent leader in the NE region.

The Hemi Naga tribesman from Myanmar has edged past the chairman of the region's biggest outfit —RK Meghen of United National Liberation Front (UNLF) of Manipur —who is now in Guwahati jail. Meghen wanted to become the chairman of the newly floated United Liberation Front of Western South East Asia (UNLFW).

Intelligence agencies intercepted messages sent by Meghen from Guwahati jail, directing his group not to join the UNLFW if the chairman's post is not given to him.

"Khaplang did not agree to this and he went ahead with the formation of the UNLFW on April 17 with just three other member outfits — Ulfa(I), NDFB (S) and KLO — besides NSCN(K)," a source said.

According to the initial plan, the UNLFW was supposed to be the common platform of all NE militant outfits, including the CorCom, another umbrella group of six Meitei outfits. The CorCom comprises of Peoples' Liberation Army (PLA), United National Liberation Front (UNLF), People's Revolutionary Party Kangleipak (PREPAK), People's Revolutionary Party Kangleipak (Pro), Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) and Kanglei Yawol Kanba Lup (KYKL) — all Meitei outfits.

The UNLFW, while claiming responsibility of the ambushes on Assam Rifles on May 3 in Nagaland in which eight personnel were killed and the Army's 6 Dogra regiment on June 4 in Manipur in which 18 soldiers were killed, said the attacks were carried out under direct orders from Khaplang.

"The CorCom hasn't joined the UNLFW but Khaplang managed to get on board the two CorCom groups — KYKL and KCP — for the ambush in Manipur's Chandel district. This is double success for Khaplang — one for the attack on the Army and the second for getting support from Meitei outfits," the source said. He added, "Even if the Meitei groups, except UNLF, do not formally join UNLFW, we cannot say they will not offer their support in future."